There will be tulips: Frigid winter can't keep Holland's favorite flower down

Tuesday

Apr 1, 2014 at 12:00 PM

By Annette.Manwell@hollandsentinel.com(616) 546-4270

Two years ago, April 1 had an entirely different feel.There were already bright spring colors in Holland and people were wondering if it would last for Tulip Time. Ultimately, Tulip Time officials opted to have fun with it, marketed “Stem Fest” and asked visitors to come once for the tulips and again for the festival.This year, with Tulip Time a mere month away, another weather anomaly, constant below average temperatures, has tulips sprouting late.There are always tulips at Tulip Time, however, because the city of Holland's parks department controls — to the extent they can — the growth of the roughly 1,100 flower pots growing 10 tulip bulbs each. That's 110,000 tulips that will be around for Tulip Time whether the ones left to Mother Nature bloom or not.“We'll have color, no doubt,” said Shelly DeVries, manager of the city of Holland's greenhouse.For the first time in 25 years, personnel had to build a temporary greenhouse — a wood frame with plastic sheeting — over the potted tulips to get them started. When they've reached the right stage, or height, they'll be moved to the large refrigerated garage at the parks department office to stunt the growth.“It happens every year,” DeVries said, regardless of the weather.The potted tulips are not replanted elsewhere, they are used to decorate parade floats, as centerpieces at the Festival Luncheon and as decorations at other venues.They are used to make sure there are tulips at Tulip Time. Tulip Time, a separate organization from the city of Holland, contracts with the city for the potted tulips.For the rest of the tulips to bloom, they need warm weather, DeVries said.Tulips are not the only flower or color during Tulip Time, though. The large cauldrons downtown are filled with pansies and linaria, DeVries said. They are heartier and can deal with the cool spring temps and provide color.Once spring is over, the 100,000 annuals now growing in the greenhouse are planted around town. The color and flowers are important to the city and part of what makes Holland the destination it is, DeVries said.Most of the flowers seen around the city are started from seed right at the city's more than 100-year-old greenhouse. The greenhouse also houses during the winter the more than 70 koi fish for the pond at Centennial Park and the tropical plants used for decoration there. DeVries, part-time seasonal staff and volunteers take care of the plants grown there and also work in the many flower beds in the city.— Follow this reporter on Facebook or Twitter, @SentinelNetty.